Monday, June 29, 2009

Durham Bulls Beat Columbus Clippers 4-3

Reid Brignac hit three doubles, including one that drove home the eventual winning run in the seventh, as the Bulls won 4-3 over Columbus on Monday night.

Brignac's double into the right field corner capped a two-run rally against the combination of Ken Ray (2-3) and Jensen Lewis. Jon Weber started the rally with a single to center off Ray, and advanced to second on a wild pitch by Ray. Ray Olmedo then looped a single over short, scoring Weber to tie the game at three. In came Lewis, and he promptly walked Henry Mateo. Brignac followed with his double to right, and Durham had a 4-3 lead as Olmedo scored.

The Durham bullpen made the lead hold up for Wade Davis (7-4). Calvin Medlock pitched the seventh and eighth, allowing just a hit while striking out three. Dale Thayer allowed a two-out infield hit in the ninth, but got Michael Brantley to line to left after Niuman Romero stole second, giving Thayer his 11th save.

Matt Joyce homered for Durham's other two runs in the fourth against Ray. Durham (44-34) now has won four straight, and is 5-2 on an eight-game road trip. The Bulls have won all three games since Charlie Montoyo left the club to tend to his son Alex, who undergoes a third open heart surgery later this week.

The Bulls seek a sweep of the four-game series on Tuesday, as LHP Carlos Hernandez takes the hill against RHP Kirk Sarloos. Coverage begins at 6:55 on 99.9 the Fan ESPN Radio with first pitch at 7:05.